RNA Granules

RNA granules are protein/RNA condensates proposed to form by liquid-liquid phase separation, a process akin to the separation of oil and vinegar in salad dressing. Studying the P granules of C. elegans, we have found that RNA granules are stabilized in the cytoplasm by a gel-like coat. The coat is made by

intrinsically-disordered proteins that are stimulated by RNA to form gels in vitro. Similar proteins exist across eukarya, raising the possibility that protein gels may be a common strategy to stabilize liquid condensates in eukaryotic cells.